Non-US Citizens
Flight students who are not United States citizens must accomplish 2 additional steps before beginning flight training: a more comprehensive TSA approval process, and an English evaluation. In order to comply with these steps, non-US Citizens may not enroll in their first UND Aviation flight training course during their first semester at UND.
TSA AFSP Approval
Non-US citizens must register as an Alien Flight Student Candidate with the Transportation Security Administration's Alien Flight Student Program. You must have TSA/AFSP approval in order to start flight training. This is a multi-step process that may take a month or more. It is recommended that you start the process no later than 30 days prior to the start of your flight lab. You have 180 days after TSA/AFSP approval to begin flight training and must finish within 365 days of approval. The TSA/AFSP web site has explicit instructions for you to follow, as well as a help page.
The following is an approximate breakdown of the steps required to obtain AFSP approval:
- Register at UND for a class that includes flight training.
- Register online with the TSA/AFSP (they will require information from your visa, passport, etc.).
- UND will confirm your intent to conduct flight training to the TSA/AFSP.
- Pay the TSA/AFSP a $130 fee. SAVE THE RECEIPT
- TSA/AFSP will notify you and UND when all documentation is received and accepted.
- TSA/AFSP will send you instructions for having fingerprints taken. There is an additional fee for fingerprinting.
- Have fingerprints taken and submitted to the TSA/AFSP.
- TSA/AFSP will notify both you and UND when you are approved to train.
- At the start of the semester you must go to Records to enroll in the flight portion of your training. Students will need all of the documents used when registering with the TSA/AFSP, including the payment receipt. Your picture will be taken for submission to the TSA/AFSP. When this is accomplished, flight training can begin.
For questions regarding the TSA/AFSP process, contact Diane Thureen, Flight Training Records Manager.
English Evaluations
All non-US citizen students are required to contact the Assistant Chair of Flight Academics or a Chief/Assistant Chief Flight Instructor to initiate the FAA Aviation English Language Standard (AELS) evaluation. Contact information for these individuals is available online.
Students that have English as their primary language will be approved to enroll into their first UND Aviation flight training course in a future semester.
Students that do not have English as their primary language, will have an AELS evaluation in accordance with FAA AC 60-28B. Students that meet the standards listed in AC 60-28B will be approved to enroll into their first UND Aviation flight training course in a future semester. Students that do not meet the standards listed in AC 60-28B will not be permitted into the UND Aviation flight training program.
Students that meet the standards of AC 60-28B are required to start the TSA/AFSP approval process described above within 180 days of their intended beginning of aviation training. UND will validate student TSA/AFSP registrations only when the AELS evaluation has been completed and all standards are met. Students are allowed to register to the TSA/AFSP before the AELS evaluation. However, UND will not validate that registration until the AELS evaluation has been completed and all standards are met.
Students can continue to complete the TSA/AFSP process described above once the AELS evaluation has been completed. Aviation training cannot begin until the entire TSA/AFSP process has been completed.